Valtteri Filppula injury: Red Wings forward expected to return Wednesday night

Christian Petersen

Valtteri Filppula is expected to return to the Detroit Red Wings lineup for the first time since Feb. 24.

Detroit Red Wings forward Valtteri Filppula is expected to return to the lineup against the Calgary Flames on Wednesday night, according to head coach Mike Babcock via Ansar Khan of MLive.com.

Filppula has missed seven games due to a shoulder injury, which was sustained against the Vancouver Canucks on Feb. 24.

It was believed that Filppula was nearing a return and merely required a clearance from the team's training staff. This belief was further substantiated on Tuesday afternoon when the Red Wings recalled forward Gustav Nyquist from the Grand Rapids Griffins of the American Hockey League and assigned forward Tomas Tatar.

With Filppula's return, Tatar would be removed from the power play, which would limit his ice-time. Instead of having him sit on the bench, the organization believes it will be better for him to receive substantial playing time in Grand Rapids in order to continue his development.

Filppula has recorded four goals and six assists for 10 points in 19 games this season.

With Nyquist in the lineup on Wednesday, it is believed that forward Jordin Tootoo will be a healthy scratch.